The White Wolf of Winter

Part Twelve, Memorial Service for Joey

Chapter Twenty,
    When I got to school the next day, Dan was waiting for me at the hitching post.

    "Danny!" I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck and he kissed me deeply and held me close.

    "I need to inform you about something before you go inside, Mary."

    "Oh ya, what's that Dan?"

    "They're having a memorial service for Joey here at the school today, Mary. It's being held in the gym and Joey's family will all be there. Everyone is expected to attend. Bleachers will be set up around the entire perimeter of the gym. The police will be there to give an update on the investigation. Will you be ok, Mary? I'll keep you close beside me throughout the entire thing. I promise."

    "I guess I'm going to have to be ok. What time is it, Danny?"

    "Right after lunch. I'll meet you in the cafeteria. We can eat together."

    "Ok, Dan."

    We go inside and go our separate ways to our classes. Everyone is talking about poor Joey. Who or what killed him. He was a great guy and other typical bull shit you hear when somebody dies. Even if they were a complete pile of shit; they say you were a great guy. Especially if your family is a bunch of monsters. We all know how that goes.

    Dan and I have lunch together trying not to laugh at the talk around us about how wonderful Joey was and how greatly he'll be missed.

    After lunch, we proceed to the gym for Joey's memorial service. We see all these men in black suits surrounding the gym. Probably all packing heat. What a joke!"

    One by one students and faculty come to the podium to talk about how wonderful Joey was and what a great loss to the school and the community this is.

Dan is holding tightly to my hand. I'm trying not to crack up laughing. I'm trying to suppress giggles as the shit gets deeper.

    "Mary, keep it together. You don't want to piss these people off. And you don't want to draw attention to yourself."

    I can't answer him because I'm afraid I'll start laughing and won't be able to stop. I'm trying to pinch my lips tightly together.

    "Mary, can you talk to me? Are you going to be ok?"

    Joey's father goes to the podium and speaks into the microphone. "We had so much pride in our son. He was a wonderful boy, a credit to the community." We must find the monster who did this to our wonderful son."

    "Mary, speak to me, Mary."

    I can't hold back any longer. I burst out hysterically laughing. Everyone is looking at me with their mouths jacked open. Dan's face is beet red from embarrassment. But I can't stop laughing.

    Joey's father is so angry; "Get that stupid bitch out of here!"

The men in black are coming towards me. Dan tells them to back off. I am a sick girl and he will take me to the infirmary.

Dan picks me up in his arms and takes me to the nurse's office. The nurse comes behind Dan to unlock the door and prepare an injection to calm me down. I just keep laughing hysterically until the medication hits my brain and knocks me out. She really gave me a big dose this time. Dan sat beside me the rest of the afternoon holding my hand until I woke up after everyone had went home. No body was left in the building but the janitorial staff.

    "Danny?"
    "Ya, Mary"

    "I am so sorry I embarrassed you like that."
Dan starts laughing.

    "What's so funny, Dan?"

    "Sweetheart you were great! You embarrassed Joey's family so bad. I loved it! I really did!"
Soon, I am laughing with Dan.

    "I love you, Danny."

    "I love you too, Mary. You keep things interesting around here. People will be talking about this for years. Let me know when you're able to make it back home. If not, I'll give you a ride back."

    "I'm ok, Dan. I wish you could move in with me. But I know you have your own place and your own life."

    "Well, that is a mighty tempting offer, Mary, maybe someday I'll take you up on that."